The small town of Torre Pacheco, Spain, is reeling from violent protests against migrants after an elderly man was assaulted. Police deployed additional officers after escalating unrest led to multiple arrests, with local far-right groups calling for further action against the immigrant population.
Surge in Violence: Anti-Migrant Unrest Grips Southern Spain
Surge in Violence: Anti-Migrant Unrest Grips Southern Spain
Tensions escalate in Torre Pacheco following an attack on a pensioner, leading to 14 arrests amidst rising anti-migrant sentiment.
The small town of Torre Pacheco in southern Spain has recently faced a wave of unrest following an incident involving an elderly man. A total of 14 individuals were arrested as protests intensified over the attack on a 68-year-old pensioner, who was assaulted by three young men of North African descent last Wednesday. The violence was exacerbated when a video linked to the event circulated on social media, inciting fear and anger within the community of 40,000, which has a substantial immigrant demographic.
The elderly victim, identified as Domingo Tomás Domínguez, reported that his assailants threw him to the ground while he was on his morning walk. Although he suffered noticeable injuries, police stated the motivations behind the attack remain unclear. Notably, the video that sparked outrage was later confirmed to be unrelated to Domínguez's assault, yet calls for violence against immigrants surged across social media platforms.
By Friday, the atmosphere turned grim as groups of individuals, some armed with blunt objects, patrolled the streets in search of North African immigrants. A far-right faction, known as "Deport Them Now," issued calls for violent retaliation against this demographic. In a further escalation, a prominent member of this extremist group was arrested in Mataró for spreading hate speech online.
With the unrest spreading, local authorities bolstered police presence, deploying over 130 officers from both local forces and the Guardia Civil. The suspects accused of attacking Domínguez, who are all Moroccan nationals aged in their twenties, were apprehended after authorities tracked down one attempting to flee to France.
The disturbances reached their peak over the weekend, with rioters targeting vehicles and businesses, leading to violent confrontations with law enforcement. Witnesses reported scenes of pandemonium, including youths throwing glass bottles and vandalizing a local kebab shop. The mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Ángel Roca, urged the migrant community to remain indoors in an effort to avoid further confrontation.
Residents from immigrant backgrounds, many of whom work in the local agriculture sector, expressed feelings of insecurity following the turmoil. Local anti-immigrant sentiments have gained traction, with extremist groups seeking to fan the flames of division. The situation has drawn criticism from government officials, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of hatred.
Questions have also been raised about the role of political rhetoric, specifically from the far-right Vox party, which has been accused of perpetuating an anti-immigrant narrative that may have ignited such violence. The party’s leader, Santiago Abascal, attributed the unrest to broader immigration issues while denying any responsibility. Meanwhile, investigations into hate crimes linked to the events in Torre Pacheco are ongoing.
